Does the phrase ‘Jack of all trades, master of nothing’ hold good today? To become a master of something, one needs to do a lot of hard work among other things. But obviously, sticking to one line of work does not guarantee becoming a master of it. Unless you have the drive, zeal and luck to accomplish it, the road to everywhere is difficult. Therefore, being a Jack of all trades is not a negative trait. In fact, it might actually help you in diversifying your skills, making you experienced and enhancing your value in the job market. It practically means being smart.

My friend has this age long habit of taking up many projects at the same time. She deftly deals with each and every project of hers with professionalism and alacrity. Never have I caught her being slack in her work. This made me realise that just being involved in different things is not enough. Being successful in all those things is what makes the difference in your career. Here are some pointers that will smoothen and balance your diverse commitments.

Love your work. This is the quintessential factor in opting for sovereign assignments. You need to love your work. Without this everything will fall apart. You need to give your heart and soul to the work. Only then will it speak for itself. Also, if you enjoy what you do, you will never get bored of it.

Adaptability. A lithe approach to the entire idea is a must. Every venture/project has a different nature and approach to it. Be agreeable to all scenarios. Some might work well for you and others might not. Be flexible and accept all opportunities to use your skills and enrich your experience. Avoid a stiff attitude and make sure to provide a pleasing service.

Work well. Make sure to badger the client with questions before taking a project and leave no room for ambiguity. Be clear of what is expected of you. A well documented agreement before any undertaking is a good idea. Meet all timelines and do not leave any chance to complain.

Marketing. When you work independently, it becomes important for you to build contacts with the right people. Therefore, work well. Propagate your work through word of mouth and use the social and professional networking medium for the same. Market your work to bag more projects and maintain good relationships with your clients to guarantee future work.

And this isn't about changing your language, your vocabulary, or your proficiency with words. It is more about changing the outlook, and the messages delivered thereof. And professionally it does make a lot of difference.
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